Labrador Retriever Reigns Supreme Once Again In Atlanta

NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Once again, the Labrador Retriever took Atlanta's top spot in the American Kennel Club's (AKC®) 2015 ranking of the most popular AKC-recognized dog breeds in the U.S.

The Lab was also recognized as the #1 pup in Austin, Baltimore, and Boston.

Shake-ups and surprises were evident throughout Atlanta's rankings. The Boxer fell out of favor in Atlanta, dropping from sixth to tenth. Similarly, the Yorkshire Terriers dropped two spots, going from seventh to ninth.

"Atlanta loves its retrievers," said AKC Vice President Gina DiNardo. "The Lab holds onto the top spot with the Golden Retriever nipping at its heels."

Atlanta's top 5 breeds for 2015:

Atlanta's Most Popular Breeds 2015

Labrador Retriever

Golden Retriever

German Shepherd Dog

French Bulldog

Bulldog

* Registration data pulled from Atlanta zip codes as specified by U.S. Postal Service

The AKC today also announced its nationwide rankings. The Labrador Retriever – an intelligent, family friendly breed – holds tight to the number one spot on the most popular list for the 25th consecutive year, continuing the longest reign as the nation's top dog in AKC history.

While the Lab is clearly America's dog, the French Bulldog is poised for a takeover. The affectionate and playful breed continues to win the hearts of dog lovers everywhere, jumping three spots to number six in 2015. The Frenchie has risen 32 spots over the past decade and shows no signs of stopping.

The American Kennel Club, founded in 1884, is a not-for-profit organization which maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world and oversees the sport of purebred dogs in the United States. The AKC is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function. Along with its nearly 5,000 licensed and member clubs and its affiliated organizations, the AKC advocates for the purebred dog as a family companion, advances canine health and well-being, works to protect the rights of all dog owners and promotes responsible dog ownership. More than 20,000 competitions for AKC-registered purebred dogs are held under AKC rules and regulations each year including conformation, agility, obedience, rally, tracking, herding, lure coursing, coonhound events, hunt tests, field and earthdog tests. Affiliate AKC organizations include the AKC Humane Fund, AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Companion Animal Recovery and the AKC Museum of the Dog. For more information, visit www.akc.org.

AKC, American Kennel Club, the American Kennel Club seal and design, and all associated marks and logos are trademarks, registered trademarks and service marks of The American Kennel Club, Inc.